19
Improvers Improvers Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Declarer Play in No Declarer Play in No Trumps Trumps
ImproversImprovers
Lesson 2Lesson 2
Declarer Play in No Declarer Play in No TrumpsTrumps
Declarer Play in NTDeclarer Play in NT
The Auction is completeThe Auction is complete The opening lead is madeThe opening lead is made Dummy goes downDummy goes down Is it the right contract?Is it the right contract? It is now irrelevantIt is now irrelevant Because its what you have to playBecause its what you have to play So concentrate on thatSo concentrate on that
Prepare a Cunning PlanPrepare a Cunning Plan
Keep Control of the SuitsKeep Control of the Suits How many top tricks are there?How many top tricks are there? How many more are needed?How many more are needed? Where can we establish them?Where can we establish them? Are there any dangers?Are there any dangers? If it looks impossible is there a If it looks impossible is there a
gambling option?gambling option?
1NT1NT3NT3NT
A
Q
2
Q
T
4
K
8
Q
J
4
3
2
K
5
4
K
6
3
A
Q
7
2
T
7
5
2NT
A
Q
2
Q
T
4
K
8
Q
J
4
3
2
K
5
4
K
6
3
A
Q
7
2
T
7
5
How Many Top Tricks? 6How Many more needed? 3Are there any dangers?
Where can we establish the extra tricks?
Contract Contract is is
6NT6NT
A
Q
2
A
K
4
A
8
Q
J
4
3
2
K
J
4
Q
J
3
K
9
7
2
K
T
5
How Many Top Tricks? 8How Many more needed? 4Are there any dangers?
Where can we establish the extra tricks?
Establishing Tricks in Long SuitsEstablishing Tricks in Long Suits
With 8 cards the most likely split for With 8 cards the most likely split for the remaining 5 is 3/2 the remaining 5 is 3/2
If you have 5 in 1 hand you will If you have 5 in 1 hand you will probably make 2 when opponents probably make 2 when opponents are outare outQ
J
4
3
2
T
7
5
• Lead 2 toward T
• Then 5 toward Q
• You lose A and K
• Then make 3 tricks
The FinesseThe Finesse When you have an When you have an
honour sequence honour sequence with a gap:with a gap:
The A will always makeThe A will always make If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the
KK Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is
playedplayed If K is onside it makesIf K is onside it makes If offside it failsIf offside it fails So 50% of the time you make an extra trickSo 50% of the time you make an extra trick
A
Q
2
5
4
The FinesseThe Finesse
Lead 2 toward QLead 2 toward Q If K is onside you make the QIf K is onside you make the Q If offside you don’tIf offside you don’t It makes 50% of the timeIt makes 50% of the time If you lead Q toward A good defenders If you lead Q toward A good defenders
will play K to limit you to 1 trickwill play K to limit you to 1 trick
A
Q
2
5
4
It works with the It works with the honours on honours on opposite sides:opposite sides:
The FinesseThe Finesse Finessing towardsFinessing towards
lower honourslower honours
Lead 5 towards KJLead 5 towards KJ If 2If 2ndnd player plays low put up J player plays low put up J If 2If 2ndnd player plays A play low player plays A play low If 2If 2ndnd player plays Q play K player plays Q play K Then lead 7 towards remaining honourThen lead 7 towards remaining honour If either A or Q is onside you make 1If either A or Q is onside you make 1 If Both are onside you make 2If Both are onside you make 2
K
J
7
6
5
The FinesseThe FinesseWith 2 lower With 2 lower
honours take a honours take a double finessedouble finesse
Lead 4 and put up TLead 4 and put up T It probably fails (75%)It probably fails (75%) Then lead 5 towards JThen lead 5 towards J Good chance of making 2 tricksGood chance of making 2 tricks Only fails if both K and Q are offsideOnly fails if both K and Q are offside
A
J
T
6
5
4
A
Q
2
Q
T
4
K
8
Q
4
3
2
5
4
K
6
3
A
Q
7
T
5
J
J
J
J
4 Top Tricks
Establish 3 more in
1 in
maybe 2
Finesse in
Contract
3NT
FinessesFinesses Where you can take a finesse without Where you can take a finesse without
danger take itdanger take it When you need an extra trick and When you need an extra trick and
have no other option take ithave no other option take it If either opponents bid you can expect If either opponents bid you can expect
high cards to be in that hand – so with high cards to be in that hand – so with a choice finesse away from the strong a choice finesse away from the strong handhand
Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) is usually a better optionis usually a better option
Keeping ControlKeeping Control In NT contracts control is essentialIn NT contracts control is essential If you have to establish a suit do If you have to establish a suit do
NOT cash other winners, be NOT cash other winners, be patient!!!! patient!!!!
It gives the defence extra tricks with It gives the defence extra tricks with small cardssmall cards
If one defender has 6 cards in a suit If one defender has 6 cards in a suit where you have AKQ and you cash them where you have AKQ and you cash them they take 3 tricks if they get back inthey take 3 tricks if they get back in
So – set up enough winners, then cash So – set up enough winners, then cash them!them!
Keeping ControlKeeping Control Contract 3NTContract 3NT 28 HCP28 HCP 7 top tricks7 top tricks dangerdanger EstablishEstablish Then cash Then cash
other suitsother suits
A
K
Q
5
4
3
A
Q
T
4
3
A
K
Q
J
8
7
Q
J
9
8
7
5
4
3
2
If you cash If you cash ‘s or‘s or ‘s first you give ‘s first you give away cheap tricksaway cheap tricks
Keeping ControlKeeping Control
Do NOT cash winners until you have Do NOT cash winners until you have established enough tricks for the established enough tricks for the contractcontract
Except!!Except!! When cashing winners will clear the When cashing winners will clear the
suit thus avoiding cheap winners for suit thus avoiding cheap winners for the defencethe defence
This has a squeeze effect and defence This has a squeeze effect and defence may have to throw cards they expect may have to throw cards they expect to win.to win.
Keeping ControlKeeping Control Contract Contract
3NT3NT 28 HCP28 HCP 7 top tricks7 top tricks dangerdanger RunRun Then est’sh.Then est’sh.
‘s‘s
A
6
Q
5
4
3
A
Q
T
4
3
Q
K
T
J
8
7
Q
A
K
8
7
5
4
3
2
RunningRunning ‘s defence have 6 discards. ‘s defence have 6 discards.
May give clues to missing K’s.May give clues to missing K’s.
‘‘s may be discarded.s may be discarded.
Taking a Gamble!Taking a Gamble! 1NT - they 1NT - they
all Passed!all Passed! 3 winners3 winners Looks Looks
hopelesshopeless Only hope is Only hope is
ifif K is K is singleton singleton
LeadLead A A and pray!and pray!
A
A
7
6
3
4
3
2
2
J
T
9
2
8
7
7
6
Q
A
2
9
Q
3
6
5
4
SummarySummary Make a PlanMake a Plan Long suits are preferable to finesses for Long suits are preferable to finesses for
establishing tricksestablishing tricks Use finesses when it is either the only chance Use finesses when it is either the only chance
or there is no dangeror there is no danger Keep Suit ControlKeep Suit Control Only cash winners when the contract is safe Only cash winners when the contract is safe
or you can clear the suitor you can clear the suit Do NOT give away cheap tricksDo NOT give away cheap tricks Defence often help if you let them!Defence often help if you let them!
